Description
Bauernbrot, is a rustic rye loaf with a chewy crust, earthy flavor, and aromatic caraway seeds. Long fermentation develops depth, making it perfect with butter, cheese, or hearty soups.
Ingredients
Dough Starter:
3/4 cup bread flour
3/4 cup rye flour
3 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
Flour Mixture:
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (plus more to grease bowl)
Cornmeal, for dusting baking tray
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together starter ingredients until smooth. Let sit 10 minutes to activate yeast.
- Mix flour mixture in a separate bowl: bread flour, caraway seeds, salt, and yeast.
- Pour flour mixture over starter without stirring. Cover and let rest 2–5 hours.
- Add oil, then stir flour mixture into starter. Knead 10 minutes until smooth and elastic, adding flour if too sticky.
- Let dough rest 10 minutes, then knead again 5–10 minutes.
- Place in a lightly oiled bowl, coat top, cover, and let rise 1 1/2–2 hours until doubled. Punch down, knead 3–4 times, shape into a ball, and let rise 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) with a metal pan inside for steam.
- Shape dough into a ball, place seam-side down on a cornmeal-dusted baking sheet, oil lightly, cover, and let rise 1 hour.
- Score dough with 3 parallel and 3 perpendicular cuts. Mist with water.
- Bake 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 400°F (200°C) and bake 35–45 minutes, until loaf registers 190°F internally.
- Cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
Swap honey for molasses for deeper flavor.
Add sunflower or pumpkin seeds for texture.
Increase rye flour for stronger earthy flavor, or reduce caraway for milder bread.
Divide dough into two loaves and reduce bake time by 10–15 minutes if smaller loaves are desired.
Store wrapped in a towel at room temperature for 3 days, or freeze slices up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 6 hours
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
